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Secretary General Of The Commonwealth Should Take Urgent Action

By Mangala Samaraweera

Mangala Samaraweera MP

On 7th December 2012, President Mahinda Rajapakse and Commonwealth Secretary General Kamelesh Sharma announced that the next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting will be held in Colombo from 15th – 17th November 2013.

On the same afternoon, in a twist of irony, the Opposition MPs walked out of Parliament in protest against the manner in which the Parliament under the directions of President Rajapake, is proceeding with a politically motivated impeachment motion against the Chief Justice, in violation of the Commonwealth Latimer Principles on the three branches of Government.

As the current Chair of the Parliamentary Commonwealth Union, Sri Lanka has now an even greater responsibility to uphold the principles contained in the Harare Declaration to work with ‘renewed vigor to protect and promote the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth.’

However, in Sri Lanka, ever since the Presidential ‘power- grab’ of 2010, when the 18th Amendment to the constitution was rushed through Parliament, it was becoming increasingly clear that the Rajapakse regime was moving away from Commonwealth values and principles. Democratic institutions have been systematically dismantled since then but the impeachment process – more akin to a witch trial of the dark ages -unleashed against the Chief Justice has now exposed the true agenda of the regime at its worst.

It is in this context that the Secretary General of the Commonwealth should take urgent action to request the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to evaluate the present situation in Sri Lanka and report if the actions of the Sri Lankan Government are in keeping with its declared commitment to the Harare Principles of Democracy and the Rule of Law.
Mangala Samaraweera MP
Former Foreign Minister.
8/12/12

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Latest comments

  • 0
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    Where is your imbecile leader? What. Can he do? If you think we would ever cast a vote for that man ,you better think again

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      MS atleast writes a letter. The UNP is missing in action. They should abdicate leadership of the opposition. General SF or even CJ would do a far better job. SL needs tough leadership to tackle the thugs running Colombo right now. UNP is not in a position to handle anything against corrupt Rajapakse family.

      • 0
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        Ben – you are absolutely right! Ranil is the main impediment to a decent opposition. He is sooo ‘inactive’ that anyone who believes he has a vested interest in MR’s continuity can not be blamed. He has also recently ‘done a JR’ by pushing through amendments to the UNP constitution that will extend his power. Wonder what the others in the UNP are thinking to let him get away with this crap?

        I am also amazed by the loyalists (like Gamini) who keep defending him in spite of the fact that he has done virtually NOTHING to oppose MR’s excesses.

  • 0
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    Leader of the Opposition can and should write offically to the Commonwealth Secretary General Kamelesh Sharma and UN on this gross travesty of justice and undemocratic action of the Govt and President. This is the least the opposition can do at this crucial juncture.

  • 0
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    Who cares for the Commonwealth? We don’t care whether the Queen come sor not. Our King is our biggest gift. This is the King I was waiting for and now we have a dynasty that will take us forward to prosperity.

    • 0
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      @Leela
      I agree with you.Our King is our biggest gift. What a lucky race of humans we are.;)

      The NEW Silly Lunket National Anthem
      (Sung to the tune of “God Save the Queen”)

      God save our gracious Maha Raja,
      Long live our noble Maha Raja,
      God save the Maha Raja!
      Send him victorious,
      Happy and glorious,
      Long to reign over us,
      God save the Maha Raja!

      O Maha Raja arise,
      Scatter our enemies,
      And make them fall with more abductions and impeachments!
      Confound their International conspiracies,
      Confuse their politics,
      On you our hopes we fix,
      God save the Maha Raja!

      Not in this land alone,
      Be Maha Raja’s mercies known,
      From shore to shore!
      Maha Raja make the nations see,
      That brothers should rule,
      And only one family reign,
      The wide world ov’er

      From every latent foe,
      From the Diaspora to Sir Rot FunnyShaker,
      God save the Maha Raja!
      O’er his arm extend,
      For RajaPakistan’s sake defend,
      Our father, king, uncle, aunty and friend,
      God save the Maha Raja!

      Thy choicest real estate in the land,
      On him be pleased to bestow,
      Long may he reign! And after him his son!
      May he reject our laws,
      Without giving any cause,
      To sing with heart and voice,
      God save the Maha Raja!

      • 0
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        You forgot to respect Leela in the Poem…

        At least in one last line…

        God save my beloved Leela

  • 0
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    Please comment on the below link.

    http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/251758/071212chogm.htm

    It’s the least we can do.

  • 0
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    Why is everyone appealing to the world to help us solve our problems? This is becoming a contagion. Why cannot we handle problems ourselves? Why cannot the opposition mobile the people, as SWRD, JRJ and CBK, did at various times? If we do not know how to deal with our problems, we should handover the power to rule us to someone outside. What a bunch of shameless morons are we?

    Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

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      We have a nincompoop leading it!

    • 0
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      Could not agree with you more Dr. Narendran. We have many brave & intelligent people in Sri Lanka. Who can lead the nation 100 times better. Who can kick the rascals out. Problem is two leading parties in SL are blocking emergence/breeding of new leadership talent. So that, they can keep it in their corrupt families. True for both SLFP and UNP. This has been going on since Sri Lanka’s since Independence.

      • 0
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        Ben Hurling,

        Your conclusion applies to all political formations and institutions. In fact human nature ensures that individuals and institutions become more important than the principles for which they found a footing or were established. Lord Buddha did want his realisation even written down because he understood this human failure. The church becomes more important than Christianity and so on.

        Dr. Rajasingham Narendran

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    Dr RN you yourself is a moron. Why is the appeal always referred to the IC, because the Govt of SL cannot solve the problems that it is facing the country. You are not living in a pariah state but also in a failed state.
    The day will come when there will be total anarchy. Only a miracle can save this country.

    • 0
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      Leon,

      I may be a moron in your .eyes. However, since you are not a moron by inference, please let me know what the IC interference ,intrusions, reprimands, warnings have done to change things in Sri Lanka for the better.

      Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

  • 0
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    Hi Mongala,..

    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
    http://colombotelegraph.com/comments-policy/

  • 0
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    This dude joined Ranil to roll Rajapaksa to avenge his demise from the plum minister job.

    That is one and the only reason.

    Now he is rather isolated and become a pathetic vindictive , malicious and outright anti Srilanka mouth piece, who does nothing but bag the country to please the anti Lankan Brigades and hoping that their Wetern backers will some day come to help create a Srilankan Spring.

    The problem is Mr Mangalas backers are all overseas and the few inhabitants also are busy making money in the current Economic boom and have no time to come on to the streets carrying his portraits.

  • 0
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    Dear Mr. Mangala Samarawera,

    We as UNPers support for all your help given to Madam CJ. She needs all your support including all the opposition parties, trade unions, Clergy, sudent unions, mothers movements, International community, Human right/ Amnesty , FUTA, Teachers Asso. all professionals Asso. etc,ect,

    It should be a collective effort to save our country from absolute tyranny and Dictatorship and from thugs and crooks like Mervin Silva, Duminda Silva, Sarath N.Silva ,G.L. Peiris etc.

    Therefore I have jot down few things that you may consider.

    1) Absolute intelligence gathering on Govt.movements as to security apparatus, Spies, Moles, etc.

    2) Constant communication with all the JSC, SC, Bar Association, CJ Defense Lawyers, all loyal opposition party heads, Religious Heads, foreign missions and exchange views.

    3) Safeguard Supreme Court Building and all the important file and information ans extra security for CJ, her family her defense Lawyers etc.

    4) Lay out Plan A,B, and C in case Govt. instigate violance to disrupt communities, opposition parties and Judiciary and others.

    5) Lay out Plan A, B, and C in case Govt. instigate another 1983 like riots which could lead to mass blood shed and arrests etc.
    Therefore work with USA, UK, India and EU and Malaysia if anything like that occures, to come into rescue. I think USA and India has RRF’s (Rapid reactionary Force) and to cordinate with them on rescue mission.

    6) To educate Masses, International Community, and the Sri Lankan Diaspora on developments on current situation through Internet,Web, Radio/ TV broadcasts and Print media. (The Video Clips appear in computer news briefs are very helpful)

    6) Both Offensive, Defensive and Legal knowledge to be used to win the CJ Trial, where CJ has to prove her innocence ONLY ON CHARGES 1, 4 and 5.

    She could have her Trial in front of a bench of senior supreme court Judges while having witnessed by Clergy, a segment of population, Bar Association ,UN, CW, and Diplomatic community and other necessary witnesses, and could be broadcast live on local and international TV/ Radio AND INTERNET.

    All these will prove if CJ is guilty or not, and the people and international community will accept the verdict.

    Hope you will consider this request.

  • 0
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    No body listen to a ‘tailor” People go to UK for higher and prestiges areas for studies and some jokers go there to become a tailor… lol.

  • 0
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    Mangala S in many ways is symbolic of the hypocrisy that destroyed the country. He was built from a nondescript by the SLFP/PA. He ditched them not because he loved the UNP/Ranil more but more because he liked MR less. Whenever leaders in a society desert principles and embrace opportunism the downward slid to that country begins.

    The Big Fixer here, who works on the Mario Puzo theory “make him an offer he will not refuse” is said to have prevailed over Kamlesh Metha, the Commonwealth Secy. And so far, Metha has resisted all efforts for a change of venue. The only strong voice against this so far has been Canada’s PM Stephen Harper. The oncoming Review in Geneva will have its role to play in the matter. The Brits are on the fence and if they go the Harper way, Sri Lanka may get afurther public slap on the face.

    Senguttuvan

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      WOW….”Public slap on the face from Messers Harper and Cameron”

      Didn’t they kick the Fiji leader in the guts for making that nation peaceful and protect the poor ethnics from your own ancestral land?.

  • 0
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    Correction – Kalmesh Sharma – not Metha. Regrets/Senguttuvan

  • 0
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    Reader K.A. Sumanasekera will know the ethnic Fijians – mostly of Melanasian origin – have been in the islands continously for over 5,000 years ago and were largely Cannibals until recent times. Indians (mostly Gujeratis, Biharis, UPites etc), who went about 200 years ago as Sugar Cane Plantation workers form about 40% of the population. The latter have contributed to the modernisation of the island through education, Parliamentary democracy and so on. As to Sri Lanka, if you don’t dispute the antiquity of the Vijaya story then, as Historian Colvin R. de Silva learnt, most Sinhalese are from nearby South Indian States emigrating here a few centuries ago “arriving in periodical waves of immigration” As to the Tamil areas in the Island the Tamils were continously there in an undivided land mass that went under the sea separating the two countries around 9,000 years ago.

    Senguttuvan

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